Two international media activists to be deported – Report
Sri Lankan officials said Wednesday they will deport two international media rights activists for participating in a meeting on press freedom while visiting the country on tourist visas.
Immigration chief Chulananda Perera said his officials found the activists from the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists attending the meeting in Colombo on Wednesday.
Sunil Jayasekara, convener of the local group Free Media Movement, said Jacqueline Park and Jane Worthington, both Australians, were vacationing and joined the meeting after an informal invitation.
He said officials raided the meeting, took the activists to their hotel and left with their passports after questioning them. Police then questioned them for several hours.
Attacks on media offices and journalists, particularly those that criticize the government, have become increasingly common in Sri Lanka. More than a dozen journalists have fled the country over the last four years.
(Courtesy: AP News)
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka turns to Indian and Russian companies to manage Chinese-funded Airport April 26, 2024
- Sri Lanka’s state revenue surges to record Rs. 834 Billion in first quarter 2024 April 26, 2024
- Army soldier killed, 9 injured in Mankulam cab-lorry collision April 26, 2024
- Electricity trade unions to take legal action against Sri Lanka Electricity Bill April 26, 2024
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa refutes Cardinal Ranjith’s allegations on Easter Sunday Attacks April 25, 2024